Moving apparatus for an injection molding machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9789638-B2
Application number	US-201414767472-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 22, 2014
Priority date	Mar 14, 2013
Publication date	Oct 17, 2017
Grant date	Oct 17, 2017

Abstract

A moving apparatus is disclosed that may be for moving a tool of an injection molding machine. It may comprise a beam having at least a part that extends generally longitudinally in a first direction. The beam may be configured such that the tool can be moved relative to the beam in said first direction. The apparatus may also comprise an actuator for moving the at least a part of the beam in a second direction. Also disclosed is a method of moving a tool. The method may comprise: (a) moving a tool along a beam that generally extends in a first direction; and (b) moving at least a part of the beam in a second direction. The first directions may be orthogonal to second directions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A moving apparatus operable for moving a tool of an injection molding machine, said moving apparatus comprising:
a beam comprising a fixed beam part and a moving beam part, wherein the fixed beam part is configured to extend longitudinally in generally parallel relation to the moving beam part generally parallel to a Z axis;
a carriage for carrying said tool, wherein said carriage is mounted to the moving beam part for reciprocal movement along the Z axis;
an actuator mounted between said fixed beam part and said moving beam part operable to move said moving beam part in said reciprocating movement parallel to a Y axis;
a first guide shaft interconnected to said fixed beam part and a first bushing device interconnected to said moving beam part, said first bushing device being supported by and movable on said first guide shaft to permit movement of said moving beam part relative to said fixed beam parallel to the Y axis;
a second guide shaft interconnected to said fixed beam part and a second bushing device interconnected to said moving beam part, said second bushing device supported by and movable on said second guide shaft to permit movement of said moving beam part relative to said fixed beam parallel to the Y axis;
a movement limitation mechanism operable for limiting the movement of said moving beam part relative to said fixed beam part, wherein said movement limitation mechanism comprises a first stopping device interconnected to said fixed beam part, said first stopping device operable and positioned to engage said first bushing device to limit the movement of said first bushing device, and a second stopping device interconnected to said fixed beam part, said second stopping device operable and positioned to engage said second bushing device to limit the movement of said second bushing device;
wherein said first and second stopping members are independently operable to thereby adjust the longitudinal orientation of said moving beam part about a transverse axis relative to the longitudinal orientation of fixed beam part, whereby the tool when attached to moving beam part will be able to properly engage the parts being ejected from the mold when tool is in an inbound position.

2. The moving apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said actuator comprises a first actuator and said moving apparatus further comprises a second actuator operable to effect the movement of said carriage in along the Z axis.

3. The moving apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fixed beam part is mounted to a side portion of a stationary platen.

4. The moving apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said actuator is disposed between said fixed beam part and said moving beam part.

5. The moving apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said Z axis is substantially orthogonal to said Y axis.

6. A injection molding machine comprising the moving apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said machine further comprises first and second mold halves and wherein machine is operable such said tool can be cycled in reciprocating movement between an inbound position between first and second mold halves and an outbound position wherein said tool is not between said first and second mold halves.

7. A method of moving a tool used in an injection molding machine, said method comprising:
moving a tool along a beam that generally extends in along a Z axis;
moving at least a part of the beam along a Y axis substantially orthogonal to said Z axis;
wherein said beam comprises a fixed beam part and a moving beam part; said moving beam part extending generally longitudinally along said Z axis and said moving beam part being interconnected with said fixed beam part, said moving beam part being movable relative to said fixed beam part along said Y axis; and wherein an actuator moves said moving beam part relative to said fixed beam part;
said tool is cycled in reciprocating movement between an inbound position between first and second mold halves and an outbound position where said tool is not between said first and second mold halves;
wherein when said tool is at said inbound position, said tool may be at one of at least two separate positions along said Y axis;
a stopping device is interconnected to said fixed beam part, wherein said stopping device comprises first and second stopping devices operable and positioned to engage first and second bushing devices, respectively, that are inter-connected to said moving beam part to limit the movement thereof, said first and second bushing devices being supported by and movable on first and second guide shafts interconnected to said fixed beam part to permit movement of said moving beam part relative to said fixed beam part, the method further comprising adjusting the first and second stopping devices whereby the relative longitudinal orientation of said moving beam part about a transverse axis relative to the longitudinal orientation of fixed beam part can be provided so that the tool when attached to moving beam part will be able to properly engage the parts being ejected from the mold when the tool is in an inbound position.

Assignees

• Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd

Inventors

• Ha Gerry

Classifications

• B29K2267/003

  PET, i.e. poylethylene terephthalate · CPC title

• B29C45/7207

  of the moulded articles · CPC title

• B29C45/42 Primary

  using means movable from outside the mould between mould parts {, e.g. robots} · CPC title

• B29C2045/7214

  Preform carriers for cooling preforms · CPC title

• B29K2105/258

  Tubular · CPC title